Paper or Digital?

In today’s fast-paced world, anything that helps streamline daily tasks is a win. A few years ago, my husband bought me an iPhone. At first, I only used it to call my kids, unaware of its potential as a time-saving tool. Over time, I discovered that my phone could replace my endless paper lists, making every day errands—like grocery shopping—much easier.

One day, I came across a meme about creating a master grocery list. Sure, you can buy pre-made lists, but they aren’t tailored to your needs. Plus, who wants to deal with paper when your phone can do the job better?

Using Your Phone as a Grocery List

Your phone’s reminder app functions as a built-in list organizer. I use mine for:

• Medications & Supplements: A quick reference at doctor visits.
• Household Tasks: A shared list with my husband, so he knows what needs to be done.
• Groceries: The focus of this post—and a major time-saver!

Creating Your Master Grocery List

of writing a new list every time, I built a master list of all the groceries we regularly buy. Here’s how:

1. Start with Your Staples: Look in your pantry and fridge. List items you purchase often.
2. Use the Hide Feature: When shopping, simply uncheck the items you need—no paper, no pen, no mess.
3. Sort by Aisle:
   • My first attempt was alphabetical, but that meant jumping between sections at the store.
   • I switched to numbering items by aisle (e.g., 00.01 Salad for the produce section), keeping them in order for quick shopping.

Bonus Tip: Grocery Pick-Up for Even More Time Savings

When my husband and I got sick and couldn’t go inside stores, I discovered online grocery ordering. Many stores offer it for free, and you can:
✔ Save frequent purchases for quick reorders.
✔ Prevent unwanted substitutions.
✔ Pick up groceries without stepping inside.

For the Paper Lovers…

If you prefer a physical list, here’s an easy method:

1. Save a month’s worth of old grocery receipts.
2. Type them into a master list.
3. Take that list to the store and organize it by aisle.
4. Print it out and keep it by your fridge for easy check-offs.

Do these grocery list tips make sense to you? Or do you have an even better method? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear!